Nov. 9/11

1. Since the end of the Cold War nationalism has lead many different countries in search of a national identity. Countries that were developed after the end of the Cold War in europe or the middle east could now create their own unique sense of nationalism based on their the traditions and heritages that exist within their country unbiased to the traditions of the super powers that influenced them before. Avisar stress's the sense of the "imagined community" because different nations in search of an identity distinguish themselves from other nations with common heritages and cultural similarities that they have stamped as uniquely theirs. Nationalism can now be viewed in a positive, non aggressive light that gives countries that were heavily influenced by global superpowers their own sense of pride and ownership of their culture. Although the means in which you establish a national identity can lead to altercations between nations, such as Israel and Palestine.

2. The three driving forces behind guiding the movement for Zion are:

a) The Jewish "everlasting quest to return to Zion" after being exiled.

b) The desire to escape antisemitism the exists around the world and has been catastrophic to the Jewish people.

c) The 19th century european attitude and desire for a unique cultural and national identity that distinguishes one country from another.

-This relates to Anderson's definition of a nation in that the general persecution of the Jewish people and their differences with other cultures unites them as a nation, which in turn forced them to take action in order to establish their historic homeland and live as a common people free from persecution.

3. Before the establishment of a Jewish nation their customs and cultures were based on the local traditions of the Jewish people they had established in their communities around the world. Different Jewish traditions were created in different parts of the world based on their local traditions.

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